Shedding mechanism for a loom



July 7, 1964 s. P. PARKER ETAL ,9

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR A LOOM Original Filed Sept. 11, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Smud PPar/ker n Joe 7. Show m.9 mm

ATTORNEYS y 7, 1964 s. P. PARKER ETAL 3,139,909

SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR A LOOM Original Filed Sept. 11, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN v.9

July 7, 1964 S. P. PARKER ETAL SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR A LOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Sept. 11, 1959 ATTORNEYS s. P. PARKER ETAL I SHEDDING MECHANISM FOR A LOOM July 7, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Sept. 11, 1959 kmqkbb .8 wEwm q kkmwk n INVENTORS SLZmaeZR/ arker' M Jae 7T Skarfi BY MW,MW

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,139,909 SHEDDWG MECHANISM FOR A LOOM Samuel P. Parker, La Grange, and Joe T. Short, West Point, Ga., assignors to Callaway Mills Company, La Grange, Ga., a corporation of Georgia Continuation of application Ser. No. 839,346, Sept. 11, 1959. This application Feb. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 90,888 3 Clairns. (Cl. 13955) The present invention relates to a hydraulically oper ated shedding mechanism for a loom. The shedding mechanism has particular utility for use on looms 1ntended for weaving heavy fabrics such as are used in conveyor belting and power transmission belting. The utility of the invention is not, however, limited to use in the production of such fabrics.

Suggestions have heretofore been made to utilize a source of power separate from the loom drive to actuate the loom harnesses and to thereby allow more of the power of the loom drive to be used for the beating up of the fabric. Such prior suggestions have, in some instances, involved use of hydraulic or pneumatic devices. The present invention provides a simplified and improved hydraulic mechanism for actuating each harness of the loom.

One of the primary objects of the invention is to provide a rugged, dependable and relatively inexpensive hydraulic shedding mechanism for looms, particularly looms intended for the production of heavy fabrics.

Another object of the invention is to permit an increase in the number of harnesses which can be used on a given loom to thereby increase the versatility of the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic shedding mechanism which permits quick and inexpensive changing from one fabric construction or design to another.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more completely understood by reference to the following description which has reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of the shedding mechanism for operating two of the harnesses of a loom;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the shedding mechanism;

FIGURE 3a is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of the cylinder and piston assemblies utilized in the invention, the assembly being shown in the neutral or at rest position;

FIGURE 3b is a view similar to FIGURE 3a illustrating the parts of the assembly in condition for movement of the cylinder to extend the assembly; and

FIGURE 30 is a view similar to FIGURE 3a illustrating the elements of the assembly in condition to cause movement of the cylinder to shorten the assembly.

The invention may be briefly described as including a pair of harness supporting shafts which extend at right angles to the planesof the harnesses and from which the harnesses are supported by crank arms. The crank arms which support the harnesses are actuated through mechanical linkages by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston assembly in which the piston remains station ary and the cylinder reciprocates. The cylinder has secured thereto a control valve for controlling the reciprocation of the cylinder. The control valve is actuated by means of a cam which is driven in synchronism with the loom. The arrangement is such that a valve element of the control valve is reciprocated by the cam and the cylinder follows the reciprocation of the valve element.

A harness 4 has pull rods 5 and 6 secured thereto. The upper end of the pull rod 5 is pivotally connected to the arm 7 of a bell crank 8 which is pivotally mounted on a 3,139,909 Patented July 7, 1964 ice harness supporting shaft 9. The upper end of the pull rod 6 is pivotally secured to the arm 10 of a bell crank 11 which is pivotally mounted on the harness supporting shaft 12. The harness supporting shafts 9 and 12 extend at right angles to the plane of the harness 4 (and to the planes of all other harnesses of the loom) and are suitably supported by supports such as those designated by the reference numerals 13 and 14. The bell crank 8 is provided with an arm 15 and bell crank 11 is provided with a similar arm 16. The arms 15 and 16 are connected by a tie bar 17. A crank 18 is fixed on a rocker shaft 19 which is rotatable in suitable bearings 20 and 21. The free end of the crank 18 is pivotally secured to the tie bar 17 by a pivot pin 22. The rocker shaft 19 is parallel to the harness supporting shafts 9 and 12.

Fixed to the rocker shaft 19 is a crank 23. A rigid strut 24 is fixed to the end of a cylinder 25 and is pivotally secured to the crank 23 by a pivot pin 26. A piston 27 within the cylinder 25 is provided with a piston rod 28 which is pivotally secured to a stationary frame member 29 of the loom by means of a horizontal pivot pin 30 which passes through an upstanding flange 31 fixed to the frame member 29. It will be seen fromthe elements thus far described that reciprocation of the cylinder 25 will cause raising and lowering of the harness 4.

The harness 4a is provided with pull rods (not shown) which are similar to the pull rods 5 and 6 and which are connected to bell cranks 8a and 11a. The bell cranks 8a and 11a are similar to the bell cranks 8 and 11 and are pivotally mounted on the harness supporting shafts 9 and 12. The upwardly extending arms of the bell cranks 8a and 11a are connected by a tie bar 17a. A rocker shaft 19a is parallel to the rocker shaft 19 and has fixed thereto a crank 18a which is pivoted to the tie bar 17a at 22a.

A crank 23a is fixed to the rocker shaft 19a and is pivotally connected by a pin 26a to a strut 24a which is fixed to the cylinder 25a of a second cylinder and piston assembly. The cylinder 25a has a piston therein provided with a piston rod 231; which is pivotally secured to the frame member 29 by means of a horizontal pivot pin 30a which passes through an upstanding flange 31a fixed to the frame member.

The cylinder and piston assemblies are supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure through pressure lines 32 from a suitable pump 33. Hydraulic fluid from the cylinder and piston assemblies passes through return lines 34 to a reservoir 35 associated with the pump. The pump 33 is provided with a suitable drive motor 33a which is independent of the loom drive. The pump 33 is equipped with a conventional, adjustable pressure control valve which is not shown.

The apparatus for operating the harness 4 will be described in detail. It will be understood that the operation of the harness 4a is similar.

A valve body is designated generally by the reference numeral 36 and is fixed to the cylinder 25. A valve element 37 is movable with respect to ports in the valve body 36 by means of a stud 38 which passes through an opening in the cylinder 25 and which is capable of limited movement relative to the cylinder. The stud 38 is engaged by a housing assembly, designated generally by the reference numeral 39, which is capable of limited reciprocatory movement which is opposed by compression spring members 40, 41 and 42. A stem 43 of the valve element 37 is secured to the housing 39 by means of a disk 44. It will be seen that movement of the stud 38 to cause the housing 39 to move relative to the cylinder 25 will change the position of the valve element 37 with respect to the valve body 36.

FIGURE 3a illustrates the valve assembly in a neutral position which causes no movement of the cylinder 25. Fluid under pressure in the line 32 is blocked by the valve element 37. The valve element 37 also prevents escape of fluid through the outlet 47. The cylinder and piston assembly thus accepts no fluid from the pump 33 while in this neutral position.

FIGURE 3b illustrates the condition which exists when the stud 38 has been moved slightly toward the strut 24. Fluid under pressure enters the inlet 45 and passes through a passageway 48 into the cylinder 25 at the end 49 of the piston 27. This fluid under pressure causes the cylinder 25 to move to the left as seen in FIGURE 3b and causes fluid at the end 50 of the piston to pass through passageways 51 and 52 in the cylinder 25 and through the central passageway in valve element 37 to the opening 46 and out through the outlet 47.

FIGURE 30 illustrates the condition which exists when the stud 38 has been moved slightly in the direction of the piston rod 28. Fluid under pressure enters the inlet 45, passes through the passageways 52 and 51 and into the cylinder 25 at the end 50 of the piston 27. This fluid pressure causes the cylinder 25 to move to the right as seen in FIGURE 3c to retract or shorten the cylinder and piston assembly. Fluid in the cylinder at the end 49 of the piston passes through the passageway 48 to the outlet 47.

A cam 53 is fixed on a horizontally disposed cam shaft 54. The cam shaft 54 is driven by a chain 55 which is in turn driven through a gear box 56 by a chain 57 from the loom crank shaft 58. A cam follower 59 is pivoted on a stationary pivot 60 and is provided with a roller 61 which is in rolling engagement with the cam 53. A tension spring member 62 maintains the roller 61 in engagement with the cam 53. The upper end of the cam follower 59 is connected to the stud 38 by means of a link 63.

The second harness 4a has operating means similar to the elements which have been described. The rigid strut 24a secured to the cylinder of the cylinder and piston assembly for actuating the harness 4a is somewhat longer than the strut 24. In all other respects, the elements for actuating the harness 4a are identical to those described above and the same reference numerals followed by the subscript a are used to designate corresponding elements. It will be understood that a larger number of harnesses and operating means therefor may be used on the loom. The pump 33 can be used to provide hydraulic fluid to the operating means for all harnesses. All of the earns 53 are mounted on the same cam shaft 54. All bell cranks corresponding to bell cranks 8 and 11 may be pivotally mounted on the harness supporting shafts 9 and 12.

The operation of the apparatus for moving the harness 4 will be briefly described. The cam 53 is driven from the loom crank shaft 58 and is therefore in synchronism with the loom at all times. As the cam follower 59 follows the contour of the cam 53, the stud 38 will be moved slightly relative to the cylinder 25 and the cylinder 25 will immediately follow the movement of the stud 38. The strut 24 is rigidly secured to the cylinder 25 and movement of the cylinder 25 will raise or lower the harness 4, depending on the direction of movement of the cylinder 25. The operation for moving the harness 4a is similar.

The cams 53 do no work except to control the positions of the studs 38. No power from the loom drive is required to manipulate the harnesses, so all of this power is available for other operations of the loom. The power for manipulating the harness is derived from fluid pressure supplied by the pump 33. At any given time, at least one of the cylinder and piston assemblies will be in the neutral position shown in FIGURE 3a. The fact that such assembly or assemblies accept no fluid from the pump 33 while in neutral positions facilitates the maintenance of pressure in the line 32 for operating the other assemblies.

The manner in which theharnesses are manipulated may be altered by use of cams of different contours. It is possible to change the angular positions of the cams on the cam shaft 54 or to replace them with cams of different contours. It is thus possible to change the fabric construction or design with a minimum of effort and time expenditure.

This application is a continuation of our copending application Serial No. 839,346, filed on September 11, 1959, and now abandoned.

We have illustrated and described what we now consider to be the preferred embodiment of our invention. It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the broader scope of the invention which is defined by the claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a loom having a harness, operating means for raising and lowering said harness comprising: a double acting cylinder and piston assembly; a piston rod secured to the piston; means securing one element of said assembly to a stationary portion of the loom; a source of fluid under pressure; valve means secured to one element of said assembly for movement therewith and including a valve element normally occupying a neutral position with respect to said cylinder and preventing flow of fluid from said source to said cylinder, said valve element being movable from said neutral position in one direction with respect to said cylinder for directing fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder to cause one element of said assembly to follow the movement of said valve element in said one direction until the extent of movement corresponds to that of said valve element and said valve element is thereby returned to said neutral position, said valve element being movable from said neutral position in the opposite direction with respect to said cylinder for directing fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder at the opposite side of said piston to cause one element of said assembly to follow the movement of said valve element in such opposite direction until the extent of movement of said one element of said assembly corresponds to that of said valve element and said valve element is thereby again returned to said neutral position; a cam; means for driving said cam in synchronism with the loom; a cam follower following the contour of said cam and connected to said movable valve element for moving the same with respect to the cylinder to cause one element of said assembly to partake of reciprocating movement corresponding to the contour of said cam; and linkage means connecting said assembly to said harness to raise and lower the harness upon reciprocation of one element of said assembly.

2. In a loom having a harness, operating means for raising and lowering said harness comprising: a double acting cylinder and piston assembly; a piston rod secured to the piston; means securing said piston rod to a stationary portion of the loom; a source of fluid under pressure; valve means secured to said cylinder for movement therewith and including a valve element normally occupying a neutral position with respect to said cylinder and preventing flow of fluid from said source to said cylinder, said valve element being movable from said neutral position in one direction with respect to said cylinder for directing fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder at one end of said piston to cause said cylinder to follow the movement of said valve element in said one direction until the extent of movement of said cylinder corresponds to that of said valve element and said valve element is thereby returned to said neutral position, said valve element being movable from said neutral position in the opposite direction with respect to said cylinder for directing fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder at the opposite side of said piston to cause said cylinder to follow the movement of said valve element in such opposite direction until the extent of movement of said cylinder corresponds to that of said valve element and said valve element is thereby again returned to said neutral position; a cam; means for driving said cam in synchronism with the loom; a cam follower following the contour of said cam and connected to said movable valve element for moving the same with respect to the cylinder to cause said cylinder to partake of reciprocating movement corresponding to the contour of said cam; and linkage means connecting said cylinder to said harness to raise and lower the harness upon reciprocation of said cylinder.

3. In a loom having a harness, operating means for raising and lowering said harness comprising: a double acting cylinder and piston assembly; means securing one element of said assembly to a stationary portion of the loom; a source of fluid under pressure; valve means carried by the other of said elements of said assembly for movement therewith and including a valve element normally occupying a neutral position with respect to said other element of said assembly and preventing flow of fluid from said source to said cylinder, said valve element being movable from said neutral position in one direction with respect to said other element of said assembly for directing fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder to cause said other element of said assembly to follow the movement of said valve element in said one direction until the extent of such movement corresponds to that of said valve element and said valve element is thereby returned to said neutral position, said valve element being movable from said neutral position in the opposite direction with respect to said other element of said assembly for directing fluid under pressure from said source to said cylinder at the opposite side of said piston to cause said other element of said assembly to follow the movement of said valve element in such opposite direction until the extent of such movement corresponds to that of said valve element and said valve element is thereby again returned to said neutral position; a cam; means for driving said cam in synchronism with the loom; a cam follower following the contour of said cam and connected to said movable valve element for moving the same with respect to said other element of said assembly to cause said other element of said assembly to partake of reciprocating movement corresponding to the contour of said cam; and linkage means connecting said assembly to said harness to raise and lower the harness upon reciprocation of said other element of said assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,007,733 Rhodes NOV. 7, 1911 2,131,679 Ulrich Sept. 27, 1938 2,425,676 Hindle Aug. 12, 1947 2,687,148 Pfarrwaller Aug. 24, 1954 2,687,750 Weingartner Aug. 31, 1954 2,790,465 Battner Apr. 30, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,412 Great Britain Sept. 19, 1951 518,109 Italy Mar. 4, 1955 

1. IN A LOOM HAVING A HARNESS, OPERATING MEANS FOR RAISING AND LOWERING SAID HARNESS COMPRISING: A DOUBLE ACTING CYLINDER AND PISTON ASSEMBLY; A PISTON ROD SECURED TO THE PISTON; MEANS SECURING ONE ELEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLY TO A STATIONARY PORTION OF THE LOOM; A SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE; VALVE MEANS SECURED TO ONE ELEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLY FOR MOVEMENT THEREWITH AND INCLUDING A VALVE ELEMENT NORMALLY OCCUPYING A NEUTRAL POSITION WITH RESPECT TO SAID CYLINDER AND PREVENTING FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID CYLINDER, SAID VALVE ELEMENT BEING MOVABLE FROM SAID CYLINDER FOR DIRECTING FLUID UNDER PRESRESPECT TO SAID CYLINDER FOR DIRECTING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID CYLINDER TO CAUSE ONE ELEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLY TO FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE ELEMENT IN SAID ONE DIRECTION UNTIL THE EXTENT OF MOVEMENT CORRESPONDS TO THAT OF SAID VALVE ELEMENT AND SAID VALVE ELEMENT IS THEREBY RETURNED TO SAID NEUTRAL POSITION, SAID VALVE ELEMENT BEING MOVABLE FROM SAID NEUTRAL POSITION IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID CYLINDER FOR DIRECTING FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID CYLINDER AT THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF SAID PISTON TO CAUSE ONE ELEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLY TO FOLLOW THE MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVE ELEMENT IN SUCH OPPOSITE DIRECTION UNTIL THE EXTENT OF MOVEMENT OF SAID ONE ELEMENT OF SAID ASSEMBLY CORRESPONDS TO THAT OF SAID VALVE ELEMENT 